The third International Whole Grain Day arrives in the Middle East and North Africa this year with studies showing consumption of whole grain remaining low in the region. This is despite World Health Organization recommendations to eat more wholegrains, which are complete grains that maintain their nutrients, including protein, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, and trace minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium.

The FITS-Kids study in the United Arab Emirates for example has shown that only about 7% of 4–13-year-olds in the country consume whole grain. The study, results of which were announced in August 2021, also found daily consumption of fiber among the same age group to be at 11 grams, while recommendations are for consumption of 25 grams per day for 4–8-year-olds, and 26 to 31 grams for 9–13-year-olds.

While consumption of refined grains and grain products was found to be high, with almost 99% of 4-8-year-olds and 98% of children 9-13 years consuming some daily, only about 2.6% of 4–13-year-olds in the UAE consume whole grains at breakfast, providing an opportunity to shift to whole grain foods in the morning.

“In the Middle East and North Africa, we have always supported whole grain for its high nutritional value, and consistently increased its content in our breakfast cereals where today almost 90% of our product offering is made with whole grain as its number one ingredient,” said Sarah Kanaan, Nestlé Head of Nutrition, Health and Wellness, Middle East & North Africa.

A recent WHO review of 185 observational studies and 58 clinical trials concluded that people should eat at least 25 to 29 grams of fiber a day to boost longevity and lower risks of myriad diseases, with indications that consuming over 30 grams a day offers even more health benefits. Research has also shown that consuming whole grain on a regular basis helps maintain healthy body weight and promotes digestive health.

Whole grain attitudes in the Middle East and North Africa

There is significant confusion among people in the Middle East and North Africa about what whole grains are and how much of them should be consumed.

While almost eight in 10 people surveyed (80%) believe it is important to eat whole grain, more (86%) admit they don’t know how much they should consume. Half think they eat enough.

A study of over 2,000 people in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia conducted by Cereal Partners Worldwide, the producer of Nestlé Breakfast Cereals, found that almost one in four (38%) people don’t know what foods contain whole grain, with more than one in four (25-32%) mistakenly believing seeds and nuts are a good source, or falsely assuming they are ingredients in white bread.

The study did find that many people are aware of some key facts however, with 64% of respondents in the UAE and 53% in Saudi Arabia recognizing that whole grain products are high in fiber and help digestion. Wholegrains’ broader benefits were not found to be widely understood however, with only half knowing that they’re good for heart health, and less than a quarter aware that they can help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Half also said they believe people don’t eat enough wholegrains because they don’t understand their health benefits.

More information on how to eat more whole grain foods can be found on the Nestlé website.